Category Archives: News From TOP

Winners in New Zealand’s most prestigious competition for olive oil were announced recently at a formal dinner held in Wellington. The New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Awards are run by Olives New Zealand, the national organisation for olive oil growers.

Loopline Olives from Wairarapa took out the 2017 Best in Show as well as Best in Class in the Commercial Medium Single Varietal Class with their Loopline Picual. Reserve Best in Show was Robinsons Bay GB2 from Akaroa.

Juno Olives from Wairarapa won the Best in Boutique Category for growers who produce less than 250 litres of certified extra virgin olive oil, as well as Best in Class in the Boutique Medium Single Varietal Class with their Juno Picual. Reserve Best Boutique was Blue Earth Tuscan Blend, also from Wairarapa.

Best Flavoured Oil was won by The Olive Press, Wairarapa with their Pressed Gold – Lemon/Lime Infused.

Medals were spread across New Zealand’s growing regions with 44 going to Wairarapa, 12 to Canterbury, 9 to Nelson, 8 each to Hawke’s Bay and Kapiti, 6 to Northland, 4 to Auckland and 1 each to Bay of Plenty, Central Otago, Marlborough and Waiheke Island. This equated to 19 Gold Medals, 43 Silver Medals and 33 Bronze Medals, a total of 95 medals.

The judging panel of six trained and experienced international and New Zealand olive oil tasters praised both of the top winning oils. They said “Loopline Picual has a savoury complex aroma with fresh herbaceous flavours tantalising the palate. Well balanced and harmonious oil. Juno Picual has sweet ripe tomato with sweet vegetable hints. Well balanced with a lingering flavour and clean lively finish.”

Loopline Olives is owned by Mark and Kate Bunny. It is a medium sized grove of approximately 900 trees established in 2001. This is the 2nd occasion that Loopline Olives has won the supreme award, having taken out the top award also in 2014. They have been consistent medal winners at other previous Awards.

The Head Judge, Dr Giuseppe Di Lecce commented on the quality of the oils entered in New Zealand’s top olive oil awards. He said “I have been involved in the assessment of olive oils at international competitions this year, including the prestigious New York International. The oils entered in the New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards, in particular the Picual, are some of the best Extra Virgin Olive Oils I have tasted this season.”

Recently South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples hosted a morning tea and presented the two South Wairarapa Gold Awards Finalists Certificates to Schoc Chocolates and The Olive Press. Both were finalists in Emerging Services, and both from Greytown – not bad for a town with population 2202 (2013 Census).

Both businesses were Finalists in the Emerging Gold – Products category, which focuses on businesses with 10 or less full time employees.

The Gold Awards are the Wellington region’s business awards and they have been celebrating inspiring Wellington businesses since 1999. This year 1,000 business people including the Prime Minister John Key attended the black-tie dinner at TSB Bank Arena to celebrate the finalists and applaud the winners.

Adrienne commented on how both businesses further demonstrated the disproportionate wealth of entrepreneurial energy in the Wairarapa.

Named “The Olive Market @ The Olive Press”, the shop provides a specialist retail outlet for our shareholders and pressing clients. It has long been the dream of TOP MD Bruce McCallum and on Friday 9 October it became a reality.

The shop stocks branded Wairarapa extra virgin olive oil, a range of infused oils from our local producers, table olives from Hawke’s Bay, olive oil body products and some stainless steel storage containers. We will be adding to the product range regularly.

All olive oil for sale at The Olive Market has been pressed on the premises.

A feature of the new retail store is the tasting table where free oil tastings are available. A weekly roster of two or three brands will be on display and there’s a good chance our growers will be available to discuss their products from time to time.

Another Olive Market initiative is the provision of ‘fill your own’ bulk oil. Unbranded oil from some of the local groves we manage and pressed at The Olive Press will be available in 5 litre quantities – bring your own container or we have some for sale.

TOP Managing Director Bruce McCallum says “it’s another part of what the company is doing to drive the industry, to educate the public that quality olive oil should be part of our diet.”

The retail shop is part of The Olive Press complex at 14 Arbor Place, off Bidwills Cutting Road (the road to Martinborough) at the south end of Greytown.